First Focus Campaign for Children today endorsed the SAFE Bet Act (H.R. 2087 / S. 1033), which would establish minimum federal standards for sports betting aimed at protecting children from the harms of gambling.
“Children are not only susceptible and especially vulnerable to the negative mental effects of gambling, but they are increasingly exposed to it through an ever increasing amount of ads and online gambling opportunities,” First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley wrote in a letter to Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Paul Tonko, who sponsored the legislation. “This comprehensive approach treats the rise of youth gambling as it truly is: a public health problem. By tackling this public health problem from both a marketing and access perspective, the SAFE Bet Act puts the safety and well-being of children ahead of profits and exploitation.”
To further ensure that Congress is aware of the harm gambling poses to children, the Campaign recommended including the impact on children in the Surgeon General’s report.